The Bizarre World of Florida

Drunk granddad went to schools, asked to bring a gun on campus December 19, 2012

Charlotte County Sheriff’s deputies arrest a 61 year old man Monday after he went intoxicated to two schools in Port Charlotte asking if he could bring a gun on school property to protect his grandchildren. Arrested was Stephen Craig Miller, 23185 McBurney Avenue, Port Charlotte. Schools affected were Kingsway Elementary and Port Charlotte Middle schools.

A call to CCSO at 2 p.m. from Kingsway Elementary, 2330 Quasar Boulevard, said Miller was asking school personnel about bringing a gun on school grounds. School officials said Miller was very intoxicated and caused alarm to them and pulled them away from their normal duties to address the situation. Miller left when told he could not come on campus drunk and he could not bring a gun on school property.

At 2:22 p.m., Miller then went to Port Charlotte Middle, 23000 Midway Boulevard, where he was met by the CCSO School Resource Officer. The SRO said Miller was stumbling around in the parking lot, appeared intoxicated and wanted to know about the safety of his grandchild. He was told he could not come onto school property intoxicated. A road deputy responded and could smell a strong odor of alcohol about Miller who was unsteady on his feet. Miller admitted to have been drinking. He was searched and nothing was found; Miller gave permission to search his car; no weapons were found but there was an unopened can of beer on the front passenger seat.

The deputy arrested Miller on two counts of Disruption of a School Function for disrupting and interfering with the educational processes and orderly conduct of a school campus due to his intoxicated state, and wanting to bring a firearm onto school property, causing school personnel to leave their normal duties to address the situation.

Miller was transported to the Charlotte County Jail and his vehicle was towed. Miller was booked then released on $1,000 bond.